Major Bible Themes

By Lewis Sperry Chafer

Chapter 35

THE CHURCH: HER MEMBERSHIP

Next to salvation
truth, it is vitally important for the believer to know the Bible
doctrine of the Church.

Following the eclipse of nearly all truth
in the Dark Ages, it was given to Martin Luther in the sixteenth
century to reinstate the doctrine of salvation through faith alone,
and, in the last century, it was given to J.N. Darby of England to
reinstate the doctrine of the Church. Protestant theology has
concerned itself largely with salvation truth to the neglect of the
doctrine of the Church.

I. THE MEANING OF THE WORD

As used in the New Testament, the word church means a called-out
or assembled company of people. It has two distinct applications:
(1) In its less important usage it refers to a local gathering of
people, not necessarily Christians, who have been called out and
assembled in one place (1Co 1:2;
Gal 1:2; Phi 1:2. Note, Act 7:38; Act 19:32).
(2) In its more important usage it refers to a company of people
called out from the old creation into the new, being gathered by the
Spirit into one organism or body of which Christ is the Head. This
company includes all those, and only those, who have been saved in
the period between the day of Pentecost and the return of Christ to
receive His own. So, also, there are organized churches in the world
with their memberships, but these should not be confused with the
one Church of which Christ is the Head and all believers members in
particular. There is little said in the Bible regarding the
organization of churches, though there is nothing written to oppose
it; and, since an organization is not in view, there is nothing
written in the Bible as to membership in organized churches. The
Bible emphasis is upon the true Church and that membership ¦which is
formed by the baptism with the Spirit.

II. A NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION

The word church is not found in the Old Testament because of the
fact that the Church did not then exist, and being a mystery or
sacred secret of the New Testament (Eph 3:3-6),
it is not even a subject of Old Testament prophecy. Likewise, the
word church is used but twice in the four Gospels: once of a local
assembly of people (Mat 18:17),
and once in a prophecy by Christ of the true Church which was yet to
be formed (Mat 16:18).
The true Church could not have existed until Christ died; for she
must be redeemed by His blood (Eph 5:25-27).
The true Church could not have existed until His resurrection; for
she partakes of His resurrection life, and she is the harvest of
which He, in resurrection, is the "Firstfruits" in the New Creation.
The true Church could not have existed until His ascension; for He
must first become "head over all things to the church." Likewise,
the true Church could not exist until the advent of the Spirit on
the day of Pentecost; for she can be formed only by the present
ministry of the Spirit in baptizing all members into one body and
causing them to drink into one Spirit (1Co 12:14).
Therefore we turn to the Epistles for the unfolding of the doctrine
of the Church. This revelation was given to the Apostle Paul (Eph 3:3-6),
as before stated, and is set forth by him particularly in the
Ephesian and Colossian letters.

III. THE JEW, THE GENTILE, AND THE CHURCH

The Bible recognizes three major divisions of the human family in
the present dispensation -- the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of
God (1Co 10:32).

1. The Jew.

The Jews, or the Children of Israel, are that nation which sprang
from Abraham in the line of Isaac and Jacob, and who according to
divine purpose and promise are the chosen earthly people of God.
This nation has been miraculously preserved to the present time,
and, according to prophecy, will yet be the dominant, glorified
people of the earth in the coming kingdom age (Isa 62:1-12).
The eternal promises of Jehovah to this people cannot be altered.
These promises include a national entity (Jer 31:36),
a land (Gen 13:15),
a throne (2Sa 7:13),
a King (Jer 33:20-21),
and a kingdom (2Sa 7:16).
In the faithfulness of God, their promises, which are all earthly in
character, have been fulfilled to the present hour, and will be
fulfilled to all eternity; for each of these covenants is said to be
everlasting as to its duration). Four words describe the out-working
of the divine purpose in this people -- chosen, scattered, gathered,
blessed. It is obvious that they were chosen, and are now scattered
among all the nations of the earth. As certainly they will yet be
gathered and blessed. The peculiar ministry of this people is stated
in Rom 9:4-5.

2. The Gentile.

The Gentiles are that vast unnumbered company, excluding the
Israelites, who have lived on the earth from Adam until now. Apart
from certain individuals, there is no record that during the period
from Adam to Christ God sustained any special relation or extended
any immediate promises to them. However, the prophecies of the Old
Testament predict great earthly blessings to come upon the Gentiles
in the yet future kingdom on the earth, and in the present age they
partake alike with the Jews in the privileges of the Gospel.

3. The Church of God.

It should be noted that by the phrase "the Church" reference is
made, not to the membership of the organized churches, but to the
whole company of the redeemed who will have been saved in the
present age. They are a distinct people (1) because each individual
in that company being born again enters the kingdom of God (Joh 3:5),
and is destined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29).
(2) They are no longer in Adam partaking of the ruin of the old
creation (2Co 5:17),
but they are in Christ partaking in the New Creation of all that
Christ is in His resurrection life and glory (Eph 1:3;
Col 2:10). (3) In the sight of God,
their nationality is changed; for they have come upon new ground
where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but Christ is all in all (Col 3:11).
(4) They are now citizens of Heaven (Phi 3:20;
Col 3:3), and all their promises, their
possessions, and their positions are heavenly (2Co 5:17-18).
By so much this heavenly people are distinguished from all other
people of the earth.

IV. FORMED FROM BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES

The respective earthly positions of the Jews and the Gentiles
have already been pointed out. To this it should be added that God,
during the present age and for the purposes of grace, has placed
both Jews and Gentiles upon a common ground (Rom 3:9).
They are now said to be "under sin," which means that they are now
shut up to salvation by grace alone. At the death of Christ the
change in the divine program from the recognition of a favored
nation to an appeal to individuals, both Jews and Gentiles alike,
was most difficult to be understood by the Jew. He did not
understand that his covenants were set aside for a time, but not
abrogated. The nation's struggles with this problem are recorded in
the Book of Acts. The Jew is unadjusted to this age-program to the
present time, and it is predicted of him that he will remain blinded
in part until the Church is called out (Rom 11:25),
after which the Deliverer will come out of Zion and will turn away
ungodliness from Jacob. This, it is stated, is God's covenant with
them when He will take away their sins (Rom 11:26-27).
Nevertheless, through the preaching of the Gospel, both Jews and
Gentiles are now being saved and the Church is being completed. The
Apostle directed that the Gospel should first be preached to the Jew
(Rom 1:16)
and his own ministry was ordered according to this program (Act 17:1-3).

As has been suggested, two revelations were given to the Apostle
Paul: one, of the Gospel of the grace of God -- probably while in
Arabia at the beginning of his ministry (Gal 1:11-12),
and the other, of the Church which is the body of Christ -- probably
while in prison (Eph 3:3-6).
The vital feature of the second revelation was that out of the two
sources -- Jews and Gentiles God is now forming one new body (Eph 2:15).
This was a mystery, or hitherto unrevealed divine secret. That God
had purposes for Israel, or for the Gentiles, was no secret since it
is the theme of Old Testament prophecy; but the secret "hid in God"
was the making of a new heavenly order of beings from both Jews and
Gentiles.

V. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

The answer to the question, "Could a person be saved and not be a
church member?" depends upon the meaning which is given the word
church. It is obviously true that a person may be a Christian and
not be a member of a local organized church. In fact, all should be
saved before they join a church; and, if saved, it is normal for the
individual to choose the fellowship of the people of God in one form
or another. On the other hand, it is impossible to be saved and not
be a member of the Church which is Christ's own body; for a part of
the divine work in salvation is the uniting of the saved one to
Christ by baptism with the Holy Spirit (1Co 12:13).
As used in connection with the work of the Spirit, baptize is a word
of discriminating meaning which reaches far beyond the limits of the
outward ordinance of water baptism and represents that ministry of
the Spirit for the believer which is more far-reaching in its
effects than any other divine undertaking in salvation. It is not
surprising that Satan has undertaken to distort the plain meaning of
the baptism with the Spirit and the divine ministry it represents;
for only on the ground of this ministry can we understand the riches
of divine grace or enter into the celestial joy, with its impulse to
a holy life, which these riches impart. On the earth, the Church is
seen to be a pilgrim band of witnesses. They are not of this world
even as Christ is not of this world (Joh 17:16),
and as the Father has sent the Son into the world, so has the Son
sent these witnesses into the world. As to what they really are
through riches of grace, "it doth not yet appear" (Col 3:4;
1Jo 3:2). Being the heavenly people, as
in contrast to Israel the earthly people, the glory of the Church,
as also the realization of her divine purpose, is seen in Heaven
where she appears as the Bride of the Lamb, co-reigning with the
King, and partaker forever in the glory of the eternal Son of God.

QUESTIONS

1. a. What is the general meaning of the word church as used in
the New Testament?

b. What are its two applications?

2. Upon which use of the word church does the Bible emphasis
fall?

3. a. What evidence can be given that the church is a New
Testament revelation?

b. Why could it have not existed before
Pentecost?

c. In what part of the New Testament
is this doctrine set forth?

4. Name the present major three-fold division of the human
family.

5. What is Israel's history in four words?

6. Who are the Gentiles and when according to prophecy are they
to receive blessing from God?

7. Name four characteristics of all those who form the Church.

8. From what sources is the Church being taken out?

9. What is the new-age condition stated in Rom 3:9?

10. Describe the two revelations given to the Apostle Paul.

11. What answer would you give to the question, Can a person be
saved and not belong to the church?

12. What ministry of the Spirit relates the believer to the
true Church which is Christ's Body?

13. What can be said as to the place the true Church now holds
on earth?